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GMAC Insurance Keeps RV Customers Moving With Unique Mobile Storm Units in Response to Recent Hurricanes

GMAC Insurance Assists Hurricane Victims With Specialized Storm Response Services Including On-Site Repairs, Adjuster Task Forces and Advanced Funds for Off-Site Living

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 6 -- With 120-mile-per-hour winds and devastating force, Hurricane Charley ripped into the Alligator Mobile Home Park in Punta Gorda, Florida earlier in the month. If the destruction wasn't enough, just two weeks later Hurricane Frances hit Florida 's East coast with 100 mile-per-hour winds. RVs were overturned, belongings strewn for hundreds of yards, and in its wake, hundreds of RVers were left homeless and stranded, their lives threatened to come to a screeching halt.

In response, GMAC Insurance dispatched its Mobile Storm Unit, a crack force of claims adjusters with specialized RV and storm experience, and a cadre of repair trucks armed with everything necessary to make on-the-spot decisions or repairs to get people's lives moving again. In addition, prior to each storm, GMAC Insurance initiated proactive outbound calls to customers in anticipated disaster areas advising them of precautions they should take now, letting them know that help is on the way, and providing important claims reporting information.

"We were ready when Hurricane Charley reared its head and we're ready now to deal with the aftermath of Frances," said John Urankar, Chief Claims and Policy Services Officer at GMAC Insurance. "Our teams were assembled and ready to go within 24 hours of each storm. Within hours of each storm's passing, we were on the scene writing checks, repairing windshields and lifting overturned vehicles. Whatever we could to help our customers get up and go."

GMAC Insurance Rapid Response

When Mobile Storm Units arrived at the scene earlier this month in response to Hurricane Charley and then in response to Hurricane Frances just weeks later, they performed "insurance" triage, assembling a customized game plan for each location. Within hours, the team was conducting initial safety checks and consultations with all policy holders. The mobile repair unit was dispatched to quickly repair lesser damage, such as windshields, windows, doors and roofs. For more serious damage, adjusters made all arrangements for the rig to be sent to the central Direct Repair Facility. In many instances, advanced payments and temporary field checks for food and other essentials were made on the spot.

According to Urankar, this was just the beginning to GMAC Insurance's personalized attention. "Our adjusters helped folks move tree limbs, gather belongings and make hotel reservations. When you've had a loss, the last thing you need is to jump through hoops to get help."

Doing What it Takes

While working at the Edgewater RV Park, Mark Williams, GMAC Insurance adjuster, noticed a growing number or RVers who had yet to hear from other insurance companies' adjusters. With overturned and totaled RVs, some had no way to find lost and destroyed insurance papers, had little access to phones, and almost no ability to submit photos and proof of damage. That's when Williams acted.

"It was clear they needed help, and they needed it immediately," said Williams. "We took digital photos for everyone so they could get clearance to get their vehicles upright."

Suzy Hackett, Volunteer Disaster Coordinator at the Alligator Mobile Home Park and a GMAC Insurance customer, was responsible for helping members within the park who were affected by the storm. With 46 members residing in the park's shelter waiting for help, the last thing Hackett could think about was dealing with her own RV damage -- which was severe. Seeing her distress, Williams offered to arrange and pay for her unit to be delivered to GMAC Insurance's Direct Repair Facility.

"The folks at GMAC Insurance were on-site ready to help me within 24 hours of the storm. Mark has been extremely understanding and helpful along with the rest of the crew," said Hackett. "Mark's offer to deliver my unit to the repair facility was just one example of GMAC Insurance's compassion and understanding of my situation. They were really trying to help me get back to my life."